JP3300135B2 - Endoscope imaging device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope image pickup apparatus subjected to heat sterilization.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An endoscope which can be used for observing a deep portion of a body cavity or the like by inserting it into a body cavity or the like and performing a medical treatment or the like by using a treatment tool as necessary is used in the medical field. It has become widely used. Also, in the industrial field, endoscopes are widely used for inspection inside jet engines or inside plants. In particular, in the case of a medical endoscope, it is indispensable to surely sterilize the used endoscope in order to prevent infectious diseases and the like.

Conventionally, this sterilization treatment has relied on a gas such as EOG or a cleaning solution. However, as is well known, sterilization gases are highly toxic, and the sterilization operation is complicated to ensure the safety of the sterilization operation. Further, in the case of the cleaning liquid, there is a disadvantage that the management of the cleaning liquid is complicated, and a great deal of cost is required for disposal processing of the cleaning liquid.

Therefore, recently, heat sterilization (autoclave or the like) which does not involve complicated work as described above is becoming mainstream in endoscope devices.

By the way, for example, in an endoscope image pickup apparatus having an endoscope external camera which detachably attaches to an eyepiece of an endoscope and picks up an endoscope image, if necessary, photometric average photometry and VT for switching peak photometry and recording endoscopic images
A switch having functions such as on-off control of R, control of a video printer for printing an endoscope image, dimming, freeze, and release is provided.

The above switch is generally a switch provided in an endoscope imaging device, a switch provided in a camera control unit for driving and controlling the endoscope imaging device, or connected to a camera control unit. It is configured as a foot switch used on the floor.

However, the switch provided in the camera control unit does not allow the operator operating the endoscope imaging apparatus to directly perform the switch operation, and the connected cables and the like in the foot switch are on the floor. There is a problem that crawls or peripheral devices increase, and operability and the like deteriorate.

On the other hand, the switch provided in the endoscope imaging apparatus is excellent in operability, for example, the operator can directly perform the switch operation. It can withstand sterilization such as pickling.

[0009]

However, with respect to the above-described high-temperature and high-pressure saturated steam sterilization (autoclave sterilization), an airtight structure is difficult to obtain due to the structure of a switch provided in the endoscope imaging apparatus. Water vapor penetrates into the endoscope imaging device, and electronic components typified by semiconductors, such as an image pickup device provided therein, and steam containing the optical system, cause clouding in the optical system, and deterioration of the electronic components. And corrosion may occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, has excellent operability, and has a hermetic seal inside the endoscope imaging apparatus.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope imaging apparatus that improves heat resistance and enables heat sterilization.

[0011]

According to a first endoscope imaging apparatus of the present invention, an on / off switch is performed in response to a change in magnetic force.
Switch, imaging means for capturing an endoscope image, and the switch and the imaging means are hermetically sealed and installed.
A housing provided outside of the housing,
Magnetic force generating means for generating a magnetic force having an effect, and the magnetic force
Influence of the magnetic force generated by the generating means on the switch
Magnetic force changing means for changing
It is controlled in accordance with the on / off state of. Further, the second endoscope imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a light receiving device for receiving light.
It has a light section, and is turned on and off according to light input to the light receiving section.
Switch, a switch for switching the endoscope, imaging means for capturing an endoscope image, and hermetically closing the switch and the imaging means.
When the airtightness is maintained between the housing provided inside and the housing,
In both cases, light provided at a position where light is incident on the light receiving unit
And a transmissive part, according to ON / OFF of the switch.
It is characterized by being controlled.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a camera head of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an external view showing an appearance of a modification of the camera head of FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the push switch in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, a camera head 1 as an endoscope imaging apparatus of the present embodiment is detachably attached to, for example, an eyepiece 5 of a rigid endoscope 4 via a camera adapter 2. Has become. La said rigid endoscope 4 is not shown
Illumination light from a light source (not shown) is supplied from a light guide base to a light guide (not shown) inserted through the rigid mirror 4, and the illumination light is transmitted to the front end of the rigid mirror 4. And
The endoscope image obtained by the illumination light is transmitted to the eyepiece unit 5 by an image transmission means (for example, a relay lens system or an image guide) (not shown) that passes through the inside of the rigid endoscope 4.

The transmitted endoscope image is formed on the solid-state image pickup device in the camera head 1, for example, the image pickup surface of the CCD 7 via the camera adapter 2.

In the camera head 1, the incident endoscope image is transmitted to a first cover glass 11, a first air layer 12, a second cover glass 13, a second cover glass 13 provided on the front surface of the camera head 1.
After passing through the air layer 14 and the imaging optical system 15 sequentially, the CC
An image is formed on the imaging surface of D7. Then, the endoscope image is converted into an electric signal by the CCD 7, and is output as image information via the signal cable 17 via the circuit board 16 on which the preamplifier or the like is mounted and the connectors 27 and 28 to a video processor (not shown). I have.

The exterior of the camera head 1 is formed of a conductive layer (for example, a cylindrical member covered with a metal sheath,
Alternatively, a metal is vapor-deposited on the surface, and a conductive paint is coated on the surface, etc.) 21, an insulating layer 22, and a metal layer 23.
It has a three-layer structure. The reason why the outermost layer is the metal layer 23 is to maintain strength and the like.

One end of the conductive layer 21 is fixed to the signal cable 17 and covers the circuit board 16, the CCD 7 and the image pickup optical system 15. The circuit board 16 and the CCD 7 are shielded by the ground line of the signal cable 17. ing.

The insulating layer 22 is formed on the second air layer 1.
4, the conductive layer 21 and the second cover glass 13 are covered, and the base end is water-tightly fixed to the signal cable 17 via an O-ring 24 by a base end support member 26.

Further, the metal layer 23 covers the insulating layer 22 and the first cover glass 11 to form a gap 29 between the insulating layer 22 and the insulating layer 22. It is fixed watertight through a ring 24. A screw mount 25 is provided on the outer periphery of the distal end of the metal layer 23, and is attached to the camera adapter 2 by the screw mount 25. Further, the base end side of the metal layer 23 and the outer periphery of the base end support member 26
The signal cable 17 is prevented from being concentrated at the position where the base end support member 26 is attached to the signal cable 17 by the bending preventing member 18.

The conductive layer 2 is formed by the insulating layer 22.
1 and the metal layer 23 are secured, and the insulating layer 22 is made of a material having a low thermal conductivity, so that heat from the metal layer 23 is hardly transmitted to the conductive layer 21. .

A concave portion is provided in a part of the outer peripheral surface of the metal layer 23, and a heat-resistant diaphragm 33 is provided in the concave portion. The push switch 31 having the magnet 32 on the inner surface is used for the magnet 32. Pushing the diaphragm 33 through the actuator causes the push switch 31 to move in the radial direction of the camera head 1, and removing the pressing force causes the diaphragm 33 to move.
The push switch 31 is returned to the original state due to the repulsive force.

The push switch 31 is connected to the magnet 32
When the magnet 32 moves by a predetermined amount in the radial direction of the camera head 1 by pressing the diaphragm 33 through the
Thereby, the contact of the reed switch 34 provided at a position facing the magnet 32 of the insulating layer 22 and covered with, for example, a stainless steel coating 39 is attracted, the switch is turned on, and a signal indicating the switch state is generated by the reed switch board 36. The signal is output to the circuit board 16 via the signal line 35, and further input to a video processor ( not shown) via the circuit board 16 and the signal cable 17, thereby controlling the VTR on-off control and the endoscope image. Operations such as control of a video printer for printing, dimming, freeze, and release can be performed.

The push switch 31 has a watertight structure with a waterproof film 37 on the outer peripheral surface of the metal layer 23 via a pressing member 38.

Although only one push switch 31 is shown in the figure, the outer peripheral surface of the metal layer 23 has
A plurality of push switches 31 having the same structure are arranged, and the above functions are assigned. Also,
A spring may be used instead of the diaphragm.

According to the camera head 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the pressing member 38 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the metal layer 23.
By providing the push switch 31 having a watertight structure with the waterproof film 37 through the intermediary, a switch having various functions can be provided on the outer peripheral surface without communicating with the inside, and the waterproof, airtightness and heat insulation can be provided. Properties can be improved and heat sterilization can be performed.

In the first embodiment, the push switch 3
1 is made to have a watertight structure with a waterproof film 37 in the concave portion of the metal layer 23, but is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG.
The push switch 41a (41b) may be a camera head 1a having a structure to which the metal switch 1b is attached. As shown in FIG. ), And is removably mounted on the magnet 4 via the spring 43.
2 is brought closer to the reed switch 34 via the metal layer 23, and the magnetic force of the magnet 42 attracts the contact of the reed switch 34 to turn it on so that the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. .

Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG.
6 are related to the second embodiment, FIG. 4 is an external view showing the appearance of the camera head of the second embodiment, FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the photo switch of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a photo switch of FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of a switch. The second embodiment is the first
Since the configuration is almost the same as that of the embodiment, only different configurations will be described, and the same configurations will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

The second embodiment is, as shown in FIG. 4, a camera head 51 provided with a photo switch 50 on the outermost layer instead of the push switch of the first embodiment. In the camera head 51, as shown in FIG. 5, a multi-layer structure for heat insulation is realized by using a transparent layer 53 made of a transparent member having heat resistance as the outermost layer. And the photo switch 5
Reference numeral 0 denotes an exterior part of another transparent layer except for a part of the exterior of the transparent layer 53 facing the photodiode 54 so that the photodiode 54 is provided inside to perform switching according to light from the transparent layer 53. As shown in FIG. 6 (a), a part of the exterior of the transparent layer facing the photodiode 54 to which the light-shielding paint is not applied is covered with a finger or the like, so that the photoswitch 50 is protected.
By controlling the light reception, a switching signal corresponding to the light is obtained, and by transmitting this signal to a processor (not shown), various functions are controlled. Other configurations, operations, and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

The light receiving control of the photo switch 50 is performed by a finger. However, as shown in FIG. 6B, a slide switch 55 as shown in FIG. And the slide switch 55 may be slid to control the light reception of the photo switch 50.

Next, a third embodiment will be described. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a photoswitch according to a third embodiment. Since the third embodiment is almost the same as the second embodiment, only different configurations will be described.

The photoswitch of the third embodiment is different in that a photointerrupt is provided inside the outermost layer instead of the photodiode of the second embodiment. That is,
As shown in FIG. 7, the photo switch 61 includes a transparent layer 53.
A concave portion is provided in a part of the photo interrupt 63 inside thereof.
Place. Then, the light-shielding switch unit 62 having the convex portion
Is pressed and inserted into the concave portion of the transparent layer 53 to control the transmission of light from the light emitting unit to the light receiving unit in the photo interrupt to obtain a switching signal. This signal is sent to a processor (not shown). Various functions are controlled by transmission.

The light switch 62 is restricted by a spring 64, and the photo switch 61 is covered with a waterproof film 66 to have a watertight structure. Other configurations, actions,
The effect is the same as in the second embodiment.

Here, in each of the above embodiments, the switch is provided in the camera head. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The switch may be provided on the endoscope side, or a camera head adapter for connecting the endoscope and the camera head. In addition, a similar effect may be obtained by providing a switch having the same configuration as that of each of the above embodiments.

[0034]

According to the endoscope imaging apparatus of the present invention described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the endoscopic imaging apparatus internal airtightness.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a camera head according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing an external appearance of a modified example of the camera head of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a configuration of the push switch in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an external view showing the external appearance of a camera head according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of the photoswitch of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the photo switch of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a photoswitch according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Camera head 2 ... Camera adapter 7 ... CCD 11 ... First cover glass 12 ... First air layer 13 ... Second cover glass 14 ... Second air layer 15 ... Imaging optical system 16 ... Circuit board 17 ... Signal cable 21 ... Conductive layer 22 ... Insulating layer 23 ... Metal layer 31 ... Push switch 32 ... Magnet 33 ... Diaphragm 34 ... Reed switch 36 ... Reed switch board 37 ... Waterproof film 38 ... Holding member

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Nobuyoshi Tanizawa 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside O-Limpus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Tatsuno 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Masao Uehara, the inventor 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. Masahiro Hagiwara, 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hideki Koyanagi 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-2-87110 (JP, A) JP JP-A-2-164330 (JP, A) JP-A-5-125 (JP, A) JP-A-5-95886 (JP, A) JP-A-59-228827 (JP, A) 54-12966 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 1/00-1/32 G02B 23/24-23/26

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. Switching between on and off in response to a change in magnetic force
A switch, an imaging unit for imaging an endoscope image, and a casing provided in the switch while keeping the switch and the imaging unit airtight.
And the body is provided outside of the housing to affect the switch.
Magnetic force generating means for generating magnetic force, and magnetic force generated by the magnetic force generating means being applied to the switch.
And a magnetic force changing means for changing the influence force , wherein the control is performed in accordance with ON / OFF of the switch.
Endoscopic imaging apparatus according to symptoms. 2. A light receiving section for receiving light, wherein said light receiving section is provided.
Switch that switches on and off according to the light input to the
And pitch, and imaging means for imaging an endoscopic image, housing for setting the keeping said switch and said image pickup means in an airtight
While maintaining airtightness between the body and the housing, light is
JP it but that anda light transmitting portion provided at a position where the incident is controlled according to the on-off of the switch
Endoscopic imaging apparatus according to symptoms.